Changeable sign



(NoModel.)

J. P. ROSS.

I Changeable/Sign. y

No. 235,652 Patented Dec. 21-s 1880.

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`U'Nirnn STATES ATENT Ormea.

JOSEPH F. ROSS, OF IPSWIOH, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHANGEABLE SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,652, dated December211, 1880..

Application filed October 11, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. Ross, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ipswich, in the county of Essex and State of Massa chusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Changeable Signs;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled iu theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying l drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part ofthis specifcation.

lIhis invention relates to improvements in changeable signs for stores,hotels, windows, or for other purposes where it may be desira- Vble tochange the wording on the sign-as,

for instance, when used in dry-goods or other vstores as advertisingcards or bulletins to call attention to novelties or to other kind ofgoods, as well as prices for the same, or for similar purposes where itmay be necessary or desirable to change the reading of the sign fromtime to time.

The invention consists of metallic letters or numerals, each oneprovided at the rear with one or more sharp-pointed tacks orprojections, in combination with a cork tablet provided with a wooden orother suitable back or support and a velvet or cloth front, the latterbeing preferably lasted or otherwise secured to the back or supportafter the cloth ha-s been laid on the cork tablet and lapped over itsouter edges. The cork tablet, with its cloth cover and back or support,may be inserted within a suitable frame, so as to produce a neat andornamental finish; but I do not wish to confine myself to thecombination of such frame with my improved changea-ble sign, as thelatter may be used with or without such frame, as may be desired.

By making the sign-board of a cork sheet in front and a stift'ener orsupport of wood in the rear, I combine strength with a light and softmaterial, into which the projections on the letters or numerals can beeasily pressed by hand without the use ofa hammer or other tool. In thismanner any desired names, numerals, or sentences can be made up andattached to the sign-board simply by pressing the projections or tackson the letters or numerals through the cloth covering into the corksheet until the rear side of the letters (No` model.)

or numerals lie in contact with the covering in front of the corksheet.I prefer to` use velvet or velveteen as a cover for the cork sheet, asany perforations made by the tacks of the letters or numerals are notvisible on such materials when the figures or symbols are removed.

On the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation ofmy `adjustable sign, and Fig. 2 represents a cross-section as seen frombelow the line A B shown in Fig. l`

Similar letters refer to similar parts Wherever they occur on thedifferent parts of the drawings.

a a a represent the changeable letters,:(or` numerals,) each one beingprovided at the rear with'one or more tacks or sharp-pointedprojections, a a a', as and for the purpose set forth.

b represents the cork sheet that serves as the material into which theprojections a a. are pushed for the purpose of retaining the letters ornumerals in place.

c represents the support or back for the cork sheet b, to which it maybe secured in a suitable manner.

d represents the velvet or cloth cover in front ot' the cork sheet b,which coveris lapped over the edges of the sign-board b c and lasted ortacked or otherwise secured to the back of the support c, as shown.

e represents the frame, to which the improved sign Inay be mounted orattached, if desired.

What I wish to secure by Letters Patent, and claim, is-

l. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described changeablesign, consisting of thelletters or numerals a a, withltheir rearprojections, a a', in combination with the cork front b, support or backc, and cover d, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, the changeable letters or numerals a a a a', corksheet` l), back c,

cover d, and frame e, as and for the purpose as specied.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH F. ROSS.

Witnesses:

C. A. SAYWARD, ALBERT l). J oRDAN.

